McLean Extends Rehab – Backstreet Boys Reschedule Tour

Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean has extended his time in rehabilitation for two weeks, forcing the teen-pop phenomena to postpone their North American tour for a second time, the group’s members said on Tuesday.

McLean, 23, is in a 30-day treatment program for alcoholism, depression and other problems, and the group was set to return to the road next Tuesday. Instead, its tour will resume on Aug. 24 in Milwaukee, according to a statement.

“A.J.’s initial treatment is going very well,” Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson said in the statement. “His doctors have suggested it would be in A.J.’s best interest to take an additional two weeks in transitional care.”

A group spokeswoman declined to disclose McLean’s whereabouts. He entered rehab on July 9, the day the group announced the initial tour postponement.

On July 9th the group announced that the tour would be postponed while the twenty-three-year-old McLean underwent treatment for alcoholism and depression. The Backstreet Boys planned to pick up the tour again on August 7th but in a new statement, Kevin Richardson explained the additional delay saying, “[McLean’s] doctors have suggested it would be in AJ’s best interest to take an additional two weeks in transitional care.” The thirty-eight-date tour will now kick off on August 24th in Milwaukee and wrap up on October 20th in San Diego.

Two of the original dates scheduled in Los Angeles and Tacoma, Washington were canceled due to re-scheduling difficulties. Tickets for the rest of the cities effected (July 9th to August 22nd) will be honored for the rescheduled dates.

The band has set October dates for the other eight cities – Vancouver, British Columbia; Portland, Oregon; Seattle; Bakersfield, San Jose and San Bernardino, California; Salt Lake City; and Denver. In addition, the group has added shows in Boise, Idaho; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Phoenix; and San Diego, where the tour will now end on Oct. 20.

The Backstreet Boys are touring to promote their new album, “Black & Blue,” which has sold 5.2 million copies in the United States in the 35 weeks since its release.

Their previous release, “Millennium,” had sold 9.6 million copies at the same point, and some music observers believe steam is running out of the teen pop craze, which also made stars out of ‘N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and a slew of others.